Engaging the Life of the Soul
there is a fruit that drops easily into my hand, the freedom of the fall
that comes with speaking truth: naming the thing for what it is;
believing what I see, trusting what I know
not second guessing
taste: this is freedom, God says
to climb higher than I’d like, to take courage, to follow this heart
with its fist-sized, complicated machinations
leading me deeper into the secrets
of an orchard
flesh and blood, we seek to fill the gap, find
solace; immerse in endless streams
to console, mitigate the feeling
we might be alone, or worse not alone
and have nothing to say worth saying,
too little to offer—
do we know, as we are we matter?
that God himself became
flesh and blood
our solace and endless stream
when the sun shines on a hawk on the post
go ahead, reach out
and stroke it
the fear of its turn: sudden death
do not let it frighten you,
my friend
it is the culmination of a soul gathered in,
shining out, over the din
of heaven
when the sun shines on a hawk on the post
go ahead, reach out
and stroke it
take what you need, it’s okay
to fill your own cup
to overflowing
before
seeking to give out to others
in need of knowing
abundant-like
living
and giving
walk towards the light, the living
glow against darkness stumble,
shed your tangled skein, here by the fire
time lengthening as it slows
to hear what you have to say
for the first time
words next to fire
freight of old trains passing
in the silence, flames
explain
here, let me feel as you are
unburdened, warm
by the fire